Incontinence Pads

On a street in some small French town, I was startled to find myself face to face with a huge chemists window display of incontinence products for the elderly. As a reserved Brit, I found it both amusing and somewhat alarming when I realised just what a r

In a dingy small town Christmas street

 

Old women shuffled by on bunyoned feet

 

Past the Chemist's window display where a,

 

Full range of incontinence pants

 

is,

 

On sale today.

 

Modelled right there, out in the open

 

Pads and nappies for old women and men

 

Inserts and wrap-arounds, large and small

 

Special offers and discounts, come one, come all

 

Along the chilly winter street

 

Listless old folk squelch and squeak

 

Dragging their heavy way back home

 

Spending Christmas time alone

 

Safe from those untimely leaks

Padded up, so to speak,

 

Wearing the punishments of age

 

Returning to the land of babes

From nappies to nappies,

 

dust to dust

 

Where goes our pride,

 

When it's nappy or bust?

 

Regarding the lurid window display

 

I stared for a while, then went on my way

 

To my daughter I turned, eyebrows I raised

 

'If it comes to that, kill me' I blithely say.

 

Yet, when the weak muscles of age and ill wealth

 

Rob me of independence, pride and health

 

Will I head for the chemist relieved I can find

 

A full range of padded pants and sweet peace of mind?

 

 

Reviews

[Rhonda]

Haha! You really made me understand how you felt in this moment.

I loved the lines " Safe from those untimely leaks Padded up, so to speak." It made me think of an insanity ward. I'm assuming that was your point. Great!

-R

[Helena]

I loved this read! Having worked in a Nursing Home part of my working life I
am well and truly acquainted with what incontinency is. Although this was a truly funny poem
the seriousness of this seeped through (pardon the pun)! and yes, it could
happen to any of us, as much as we would even dread the thought now, it could!!!
Perish the thought!

Unique and an amazing write, with humour, of a more widespread problem than we may think!
Your last line sums it up beautifully!

Good job!


Helena :)

[Jason Henry]

wow...here's something you don't read ever! forget every day! this piece was quite humorous...the note above the poem kinda spoilt the surprise though :( i would have definitely fallen off my chair! nevertheless, very good writing equipped with good rhythm and rhyme.